Mounting for picker stick



G. S. SIMMONS, JR., ETAL MOUNTING'FOR PICKER STICK Oct. 6, 1959 2,907,354

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July e, 1956 44 62 INVENTORS GEORGE S. SIMMONS JR. RICHARD G.TURNER Mffwf ATTORNEY 36 SSP? G. s. slMMoNsfJR., ETAL `2,907,354

MOUNTING FOR PICKER STICK Oct. 6, 1959 Filed Jly 6, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS GEORGE S. SIMMONS JR. RICHARD G.TURNER MI ma@ ATTORNEY United States Patent Q MOUNTING FOR PICKER STICK George S. Simmons, Jr., Leicester, and Richard G. Turner, Worcester, Mass., assignors to Crompton & Knowles Corporation, Worcester, Mass., a `corporation of Massachusetts Y Application Jury 6, 1956, seria1N6.s96,3z'7 6 claims. (o1. '13a- 156) This invention relates to mounting means for picker sticks in looms and it is the general object of the invention to provide an improved giveway means which will yield to prevent breakage of the stick if abnormal conditions for picking exist in the loom. p

The usual fly shuttle loom employs a picker stick the lower end of which is mounted in one way or another for pivotal movement and the upper en d of which has driving relation with' awshuttle. In drop box looms the stick ordinarily cooperates with a picker which `it moves in a path registering with the shuttle box or cell in active position. 1f for any reason a shuttle box shift is not cor- ,y rect the picker may be aligned with part of the drop box structure insteadof with a shuttle and an abnormal picking condition exists. In such an event the picking mechanism will exert an excessive force on the stick which may break the stick. Various devices have been proposed heretofore to' permit the pivotal mounting of the stick to yield under such abnormal conditions but-they have generally been made in such manner that resetting the Vstick to its normal position has been difficult. This is particularlyl'true where heavy springs are used to cause a two-part bearing to hold the pivot stud of the stick.

It is an important object of the invention tokprovide a yieldable mounting for the stick pivot stud employing a force transmitting or conversion system of parts connected to one part at least of a two-part bearing for the stud and connected also to one of two elements which when in close engagement requires a given force to separate them but which when separated have negligible tendency to return to normal engaging position. In the example of the invention to be set forth hereinafter one ofl the elements is a permanent magnet and the other element is an armature for the magnet, but the invention is not limited to these specific elements.

ln the operation of the invention the aforesaid given force will be suihcient to cause the system to hold the two-part bearing in Vstud retainingfposition when the picking mechanism exerts a normal` picking force on the stick, but if an excessive force is exerted on the stick the system will exert a force on the movable elementin excess of said given force and the elements will separate. 'Under" these conditions the system will be unable to cause the bearing toretain the stud and the latter will escape from the bearing, thereby preventing breakage of the stick. Neither of the elements is damaged in any way when they separate. been returned to the bearing and the system restored to normal that the two elements can be returned to their normal engaging position without renewal of any parts and with a minimum of etfort on the part of the weaver. This latter fact is due to elimination of the previously used heavy springs and their replacement by the elements and the force transmitting system.

As an example of the invention one form thereof is shown in the accompanying drawings wherein:

" Fig. l is avfront elevationof one end of a drop box It is for this reason that after the stud has 2,907,354 Patented Oct. 6, 1959 ice y loom having the invention applied thereto with the parts in normal position,1 v

Fig. 2 is an enlarged front elevation of the structure shown at the lower left-hand part of Fig. 1,

' Fig. 3 is a plan view looking in the direction of arrow 3, Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a vertical section on line 4-4, Fig. 2,

Fig. 5 is a vertical section on line 5 5, Fig. 3, parts being broken away,

Fig. 6 is an enlarged horizontal section on line 66, Fig. 5,

Fig. 7 is a generally vertical section on line 7-7, Fig. 2,

Fig. 8 is a side elevation looking in the direction of arrow 8, Fig. 2,

Fig. 9 is a horizontal section on line 9--9, Fig. 8, and

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the operation of the invention.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1, the loom frame 1 supports a rocker shaft 2 on which is mounted a laysword 3 the upper end ofwhich supports a lay 4 which oscillates back and Iforth in usual manner. Inner and outer box guides 5 and 6' respectively supported from the lay guide the vertical shiftings of a gang G of shuttle boxes having box cells 7, 8, 9 and 10 reading from top to bottom. A box mouth member 11 supported from the handrail 12 overhangs the raceway 13 forthe shuttles S1, S2, S3 and S4 when they areY active one at a time.

The gang G is supported on a box lifter rod 14 which by usual means is operatively connected to a box lifter chain 15 moved by a mechanism not shown to cause any one of the box cells 7-10 to register with the raceway 13.

The loom frame also supports a bottom shaft 16 to which is secured an arm 17 carrying a picking roll 18 for engagement with a picking cam 19 on a rockable picking shaft 20. A power arm 21 on shaft 20 is connected to a sweepstick 22 connected at its outer end to a lug strap 23 extending around a picker stick 24 the upper end of which cooperates with a picker 25 to propel a shuttle in active position. The lower end of stick 24 has a pivotal mounting to be more fully described Ahereinafter. v

The operation of the matter thus far described the gang will be shifted'according to pattern requirements and if the shuttles areV properly boxed one or another of the cells 7-10 vwill be aligned with the raceway at the end of the box shifting period to create normal picking conditions. The parts 17-23, which can be considered as a picking mechanism, can then exert a normal picking force on the stick and cause it to pick the active shuttle in usual manner.

The gang G may not always shift properly and at the end of the box shifting period abnormal picking conditions will exist. As an example, the shuttle S1 in cell 7 may have rebounded so that its inner end is under the box mouth 11 to prevent a complete shift of gang G, leaving the oor 26 of cell 7 aligned with the picker as shown inFig. l0. When the picking mechanism attempts to move the stick the upper end ofthe latter is unable to have its usual motion and the mechanism exerts a `force on the stick in excess of the normal picking force. This is very likely to break the stick unless provision is made for release of the lower end of the stick from its usual position.

There may be reasons` other than the one just described to cause an abnormal picking condition to exist. As used herein the abnormal condition is intended to apply to any condition which will cause the picking mechanism to exert an excessive force on the picker stick.

Referring now more particularly to the subject matter of the invention, the rocker shaft 2 has secured thereto a rocker iron 30 to |which a support means 31 is secured by a stud 3'2 and nut 33, see Figs. 2, 3 and 7. Th@

stud can be adjusted horizontally in a slot 34 in the rocker iron to vary the distance di the support means from the loom frame and is so made as to hold the support meansin ixed position relative tythc rocker iron. The support means includes a iplate 35 'tofwhich stud 32 yis secured and a bearingsunit 36 havigis'pac'ed parallel front and back plates ,37 and 38 riedby :a cross piece 3,9.M Screws 4i) hold the plates and 37 Afixed 'to each other but 'spaced to define a slot 41. A central web '43 parallel ltoplates 37 and 38but intermediate theirl planes is {fixed tothewcross piece 39 and has right and left 'pairs of spaced vupstanding bearing ears 43 and 44 respectively, seeFig.3 v .t I I A second web 45 aligned iwith but 'spaced nfrom web 42 extends to the left from and is lixed to the bearing unit. platform 46 having vfrontfand back slots 47A and 48 parallel to web 45, 'see Fig. 3, is securedato `web i5 by scgews 49A. The cdgeswof plates 37 and: 38 are 'formed `with I itinclosing,` open-end bearing slots `il aligned with each other and opening toward `the loom lframathat is, the direction in which the picking mechanism moves the picker stick, see Figs. j5 and l0. The parts 35-50 areiixed with` respect -to each other under normal conditions and can/ be considered collectively to form the support means 3.1. `Screwst49 permt'some vertical adjpstrnent of theplatform relative tothe support means landmtlsle front plate l35 Vcan be detached nfrom the bearing 'unitby removalrof screws v4th The webs 42 and f45 uare separated by a space or slot 55 for apurposie to be described. r

VAjirst lever-means 60 has front and back'members '62. and 63 respectively, rockable von aligned pivotvstu'ds 64 and 65 screwed into plates f37 and 38 respectively. yMembers 62 and 463 have short `stud coniining arms V66 and l have longer arms 67 jointed by a cross bar 68. The shortstud arms are'normally disposed as shown in Fig. 5 to substantially close the, open'bearing slotsi5l). Al second lever means 70 isrpivoted on a pin k"Il se- Vcured in the leftfhand-pair of bearings '44, see iFig. 3, and has a short vrelease arm 72 under and engagingthe `cross bar 68. Longer arms 73 extending to the right, Figs. 3 'and 5, are parts of lever70 and lie under studs .or pins 74 on la third lever means 75 pivoted on a pin 76 held in the right-hand pair of bearing ears 43, s"ee Figs. 3 and 4.

The'third lever means has an arm 80 along which a hanger 81 is adjustable and held in-'adjusted positioniby set screw 82. The lower end ofthe hanger is pivoted betwee'n ears 83 on a pin 84 and aflat plate 85 of magnetic material, such as iron0r steel, is ixed to the ears 83.

Y The'plate 85 is in elect an armature'and can swing in a vertical plane parallel to leverarm 80l when free to do so.

Mounted on the platform 46 is a `magnetic unit 86 comprlsinga flat base 87 of nonmagnetic mater-iai,-v such as hard liber board, held down on the platform by screws "88 which passthrough the'slots 47 and '48, see-Figs. 3

and 4. A permanent magnet 89 capable of-exerting a ,l given holding force and having upstanding poles'90v and 91 rests on the-base 87 and a retainer92 held in place by j Screws 88 as shown in Fig. 4 hasa part 93'thereofrpass- `1ngbetween the poles.

;made of nonmagnetic material. The 'magnet is lirmly The retainer is alsoV preferably lockedgin position on the' platform by the nonmagnetic iparts-87 landy 92 and 'screws`88,"but the'latte'r can be i loosenedv to permit adjustment of the magnetic unit along the platform toward and from the pivot of the third lever means.

The stud .95 which provides the 'pivotal support for the plcker stick 1s shown in Figs. 7'and 9. `This 'stud is .freely received by the open slots 50 in' which'it is `confined by the shorty stud arms 66 and extends across the space between platesj37and '38 and'through thebearing hole 96 in-the stick. Referring to Fig.9,` motionof 'the stud' tothe -left -is limited by plate 37, or more particular- ;ly stud 32 withV which it alignsgwhile :notion t9. the'right is restricted by a snap ring 97 on the stud in position to engage plate 38.

The picker stick is returned to its normal position after a picking oper-ation by a spring 10i) one end of which is formed with an eye 101 to receive one end of a strap 102 secured to the stick at 163. The other end of theV spring is connected to a holder 194 fastened in adjusted positionA along the rocker shaft. Spring 119i? always exerts a force on the stick tending to move stud 9S out of bearing slots 5i) but this tendency is resisted bythe permanent magnet 'even during prolonged periods of idleness of the loom. When unrestrained by the short stud arms 66 the stud is free to move out of the open slots 50 in the `direction in which the picking mechanism tends to move the stick either by action of spring let) or the picking mechanism.

In describing the operation of the invention fa description will rst be given for normal picking conditions and this will be followed by a description of the operation when an-abnormal Vpicking condition arises.

Under usual conditions the parts will be in the position shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5 with the armature 85 attracted to the permanent magnet 89. The magnet may be of a well-known Alnico type which has considerable strength and permanence and the magnet .will attract the armature with a given force which must be overpow- Veredby an upwardly directed force exerted on the arma- `ture beforethe latter can be separated-from the magnet.

Under normal conditions the short stud arm 66 will hold vthe stud in the open slot bearings '50, this result being Vforce exertedby themagnet so that a magnet which can attract its yarrnaturewith a forceof less than 10 pounds, for instance, can enable the short arm ,66 to withstand -a force -to `the'right, Fig. 5, on the stud95 of approximately "400 pounds. Since this force would be sulicient f or ordinary normal` picking conditions the stud will beheld confined in the slot S0 and the shuttle aligned 4with theJayfpropelled'by the-.picking mechanism. It

should be-noted that-themagnetic force and its attracvr,tion -for they armature is the sole means for enabling the forcetransmitting-system to retain the stud 95 in its normal.V position. No springs are yutilized to hold these several-parts in their normal position and the system is dependent upon the magnet for holding the stud in position. The reference to specificpound relations, .as 10 to'400, isgven as anL example only and the invention is notto be-limited to these gures or their ratio.

'Ifvabnormal conditions .for picking exist the upper part 01E-ther.Y picker stick-will =not be free tomove Vin usual manner andthe force ofthe picking mechanism will be exerted on' the stud 95 to a larger extent than usual with themresnlt that an excessive force will be brought to bear on-thek-short arm 66 and this excess force whenv transmitted through the force transmitting system will be able tor exert an upward force on the armature inexcess of the Agiven force exerted on it by the magnet. The armature will 'thereforebe moved upwardly to some such position as that shown in Fig. 10, this upward movement beingeiected by Va force transmitted from thevstud 95 through the =lever system and exertedon the armature.

Under `these conditions the second Alever 70 will rock suiiiciently to enable the cross bar 68 to move down into the-slotn55 between the webs 42 and` 45. This enables the lever means 60 to move from -the full -line position `tty-the ldotted line position, Fig. l0, which will rock the shortarnr` stud-'66 up high'enough to permit escape of the v s tu'lfxfrom the slots -50 so thatl the stud and the stick can move from the. full line. i the dotted, line position, Fig. l0, withoutbreaking the stick.v

After the condition:y l has beencorrected theparts be restored by a simple operation requiring very little effort. Thev` picker4 stick can be moved back to its normal position with stud 95 in the slots 50 while lever means 60 is in the dotted line position, Fig. 10, after whichthe lever means is moved to the full line position with the second lever 70 rocked in a counterclockwise direction, Fig. 10, suhciently to enable the crossbar 68 to move aboutthe short arm 72. The second lever will then be returned to its normalposition and the arm 80, which may facthavemovedlto the position to the right of that shown'in Fig.10,'b`e moved back to its normal position with the pins 74 over the long arm 72 of the lever 70. With the levers thus positioned the operator moves the armature down toward the magnet and as soon as the magnet can exert its force on the armature the latter is drawn into close holding engagement with the magnet.

The magnet and the armature can be considered as two elements which tend to adhere to each other when in close engagement but which have little or no tendency to move toward each other when they are separated for any appreciable distance. Also, the one form of force transmitting system shown herein is not necessarily the only system which can be used, but it is desirable that a high degree of magnification of force be developed by the system between the armature or its equivalent and the stud retaining short arms 66.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the invention sets forth simple means for providing a yielding mounting for the pivot of a picker stick wherein the stick pivot is maintained in its normal position when a normal picking force is exerted by the picking mechanism due to the force transmitting system of which the armature can be considered a part. Simple magnetic means are sulficient cause of the force transmitting or conversion system to hold the stud 95 in the slots 50 under normal picking conditions, but when a force in excess of the normal picking force is exerted on the stud 95 by the picking mechanism then the transmitting system exerts such a force on the armature as is suicient to overcome the attraction of the magnetic means. When the excess picking force overpowers the magnet the lever means 60 is free to turn from the full line to the dotted line position of Fig. l to permit escape or release of the stud 95 and movement of the stick without breakage. When hicn prevent d normal picking the armature is pulled away from the magnet it is free,

to swing in a clockwise direction around pivot. 76 without stretching any springs or in fact maintaining any sort of connection with the magnet.

The magnet is on the support means which provides pivots for the various levers of the force transmitting system and can be adjusted along the platform 46 along with a corresponding adjustment of the hanger 81 along arm 80 to vary the force exerted by the magnet on the arm 73 of the second lever by the pins 74. The platform can also be adjusted vertically with respect to the support means. The setting operation can be done either with spring 100 connected to the stick or disconnected from it by slipping the strap out of the eye 101.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the invention and in whatnanner the same is to be performed, what is claimed is:

l. In a loom provided with picking mechanism, a picker stick operatively connected to the mechanism for actuation thereby, a stud providing a pivot for the stick, a magnetic means capable of exerting a given holding force, and a system of force transmitting parts one of which is magnetic caused by attraction of said one part by the magnetic means to hold the stud in substantially stationary position when the mechanism exerts a normal picking force on the stick, said magnetic means being ineifective to attract said one part and causing said sys- 6 tem to be unable to hold the stud when the mechanism exerts a -forcein excess of said normal picking force on the-stick, whereupon' the stud moves away from said position to prevent breakage of the stick and tocause movement `of said one part away, from said magnetic' means whereby the effectiveness of said given holding force on saidjone part diminishes asfthe stud moves away from said stationary position.

2. Theestructureset'forth in claimI 1 wherein the magnetic means provides the only force causing the system to hold the stud stationary and sid one part is an armature which becomes detached from and. moves freely away from the magneticmeanswhen the mechanism exerts said excess force.

3. In Ia loom provided with picking mechanism, a picker stick operatively lconnected to the mechanism for actuation thereby, a stud providing a pivot for the stick, support means provided with a pair of nonclosing open slots receiving said stud in nonclamping relationship therein and opening in the direction in which the mechanism moves the stick, two elements, one nxed to said support means, normally coupled to each yother in close engagement and when thus coupled attracting each other and requiring a given force to separate them, said elements when separated having negligible attraction for each other, and a system of force transmitting parts on said support means operatively connected to the other elemen-t incapable of exerting said given force on ythe other element and effective to hold the stud in said slots when the mechanism exerts a normal picking force on the stick, the mechanism when exerting a force in excess of said normal picking force on the stick causing the system to transmit from the stud to said other element a force in excess of said given force, whereupon the other element separates from said one element and the system is incapable of holding the stud in the slots and the stud moves out of the slot to prevent breakage of the stick.

4. The loom set forth in claim 3 wherein said one ele-A ment is a magnetic means and said other element is an armature Ifor the magnetic means and is operatively connected to said force transmitting system.

5. Ina loom provided with picking mechanism to actuate a picker stick, a stud providing a pivot for the stick, bearing means for the stud including an open-end slot and a bearing part which when in normal position closes said open-end slot and holds the stud in normal position, said bearing part being movable from the closed `or normal position thereof to permit escape of the stud from th-e bearing means, two separable magnetic elements tending when in mutual engagement to adhere to each other in normal position with a given force, one of said elements when acted on by a force greater than said given force separating `from the other element to an -abnormal position and having Ia negligible tendency to return to normal position, and a system of force transmitting parts operatively connecting said one bearing part and said one element effective due to adherence of said elements to each other to hold said one bearing part in norm-al position when said mechanism exerts a normal picking force on the stick, said one element when the mechanism exerts an excess force on the stick having said greater force exerted thereon by the system of parts and moving to said abnormal position and being incapable of causing -said system of parts to hold said one bearing part in the -normal position thereof, whereupon the stud escapes from the bearing means to prevent breakage of the stick.

6. In a loom provided with picking mechanism and a rocker iron oscillating with a lay, a picker stick operatively connected to said mechanism, a stud providing a pivot for the lower end of the stick, support means xed to the rocker iron provided with a slot receiving said stud and opening generally in the direction in which the mechanism applies picking force tothe stick, a lever pivoted on said support means having a short stud arm normally confining the stud in said slot Iand having a longer arm,

7? a second lever piyoted on said support means having a short arm normally supporting lthe long arm Yof the rst lever and hav-ing la longer arm, a third Slever pivoted on the support means having Ea par: for erlfgagenlent with said longer arm of the second filever, a permanent magnet, an armature normally helld'zto the'rlnagnet'by rmagnetic: force but separable therefrom and operatively connected to fthe third lever and normally acting through ,said pant :of the third lever, the second lever andthe long anmef the irst lever to enable said short of theirst lever to maintain the stud in said slotwhen anormal picking Aforce is exerted on the stick byl said mechanism, said stud when ythe stick is subjected to 4a force in Y. prc'essvof ,normal force by the mechanism causing 'levers to exert on Y 8 said aumatu'r'e a force greater than said magnetic force, whereupon the .irrnjvitiire separates from the magnet with resultant of said levers fand movement of said short stud to enable-the A stud Ato move out of said opten s lot to vreventhre@large 'pf{the stick `by said excess force,

eferences rivted 'in kthe rile of this patent 'UNITED PATENTS Y '742,695 Marcy n Oct. 27, 1903 Y 2,499,256 Payne s Feb. 28, 195o 2,525,776 Crompton v Oct. 17, 1950 etal. v...A ..J l Oct. 24, 1-950 

